FTC sends $9.8M to Walmart wire service customers scammed

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is distributing over $9.8 million to customers who used Walmart's wire transfer services and were defrauded by scammers, FOX 35 Orlando reported.

According to the FTC, checks are being sent to 65,022 affected customers who are advised to cash them within 90 days as indicated on the checks. Customers with questions can contact the refund administrator or visit the FTC website for more information.

The FTC's complaint, filed in June 2022, accused Walmart of insufficient anti-fraud measures, inadequate employee training, and failure to warn customers about potential fraud related to money transfers. The complaint covered the period from 2013 to 2018, during which scammers used Walmart's services as an agent for MoneyGram, Western Union, and Ria to defraud customers.

The agency stated that scammers took hundreds of millions of dollars from U.S. customers through these wire transfer services. Walmart settled the charges in June 2025 and agreed to implement measures to better detect and prevent fraud-induced money transfers.

The FTC emphasized that it never requires people to pay money or provide account information to receive a payment. The agency also noted that electronic money transfers are a common method scammers use to receive money from victims.